U.S. patent number 9,264,427 [Application Number 11/553,175] was granted by the patent office on 2016-02-16 for method and system for transferring a designated call to a cellular telephone.
This patent grant is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is Erick Simon Amador, Gregory Jensen Boss, Rick Allen Hamilton, Timothy Moffett Waters. Invention is credited to Erick Simon Amador, Gregory Jensen Boss, Rick Allen Hamilton, Timothy Moffett Waters.
United States Patent |
9,264,427 |
Amador , et al. |
February 16, 2016 |
Method and system for transferring a designated call to a cellular
telephone
Abstract
The present invention is a method and system of transferring any
telephone call designated to a first user to the cellular telephone
of a second user. The system authenticates an end user's biometric
information and then allows the end user to answer an incoming
landline telephone call from any location using a cellular phone.
Additionally, the reverse situation is true. An authenticated end
user can answer an incoming cellular telephone call from any
location using an available landline telephone.
Inventors: |
Amador; Erick Simon (Miramar,
FL), Boss; Gregory Jensen (American Fork, UT), Hamilton;
Rick Allen (Charlottesville, VA), Waters; Timothy
Moffett (Hiram, GA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Amador; Erick Simon
Boss; Gregory Jensen
Hamilton; Rick Allen
Waters; Timothy Moffett |
Miramar
American Fork
Charlottesville
Hiram |
FL
UT
VA
GA |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation (Armonk, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
39330831 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/553,175 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2006 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20080102746 A1 |
May 1, 2008 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
3/42153 (20130101); H04M 3/385 (20130101); H04L
63/0861 (20130101); H04M 7/1235 (20130101); H04M
3/54 (20130101); H04M 3/46 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04L
29/06 (20060101); H04M 3/38 (20060101); H04M
3/42 (20060101); H04M 7/12 (20060101); H04M
3/46 (20060101); H04M 3/54 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/417,406
;379/161-194 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"The Cell Phone Versus the Landline" by Tia Jackson, Nov. 29, 2005
available at http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Cell-
Phone-Versus-The-Landline&id=104411. cited by examiner .
Overview of the UMA Technology. [online]. 2 pages. Copyright
2004-2005. Retrieved form the Internet:< URL:
http://www.umatechnology.org/overview/index.htm>. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Perez-Gutierrez; Rafael
Assistant Examiner: Schwartz; Joshua
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts, LLP
Vallone; Mark C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of transferring an incoming telephone call designated
for an end user to an alternate phone receiver, said method
comprising: said alternate phone receiver receiving, from a
broadcast of a phone number of a first phone to enabled alternate
phone receivers that exist in a first alternate receiver database
directly connected to a first connection agent in the first phone,
the broadcasted phone number of the first phone, said first
alternate receiver database existing in the first phone, said first
connection agent being first software in the first phone, said
alternate phone receivers that exist in the first alternate
receiver database having been identified by the first connection
agent, said phone number of the first phone having been previously
entered by an originating user for an incoming telephone call to
the first phone from the originating user, said alternate phone
receiver being one enabled alternate phone receiver of the enabled
alternate phone receivers that exit in the first alternate receiver
database; after said receiving the broadcasted phone number of the
first phone, ascertaining, by a second connection agent in a second
phone, that the broadcasted phone number of the first phone is in a
list of allowed phone numbers in a second alternate receiver
database directly connected to the second connection agent, said
second alternate receiver database existing in the second phone,
said second connection agent being second software in the second
phone; responsive to said ascertaining, connecting the incoming
telephone call from the originating user to the alternate phone
receiver; receiving transmitted biometric information consisting of
biometric information that had been inputted by the end user at the
second phone after said connecting; and directly responsive to
having determined that the transmitted biometric information
matches stored biometric information of the end user in a biometric
information database located in a mobile switching center, enabling
the incoming telephone call to proceed on the second phone.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first phone is a land line
phone and the second phone is a cellular phone.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first phone is a cellular
phone and the second phone is a land line phone.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric information
database comprises a unique phone number of the alternate phone
receiver, a unique biometric identification number of the alternate
phone receiver, and the biometric information of the end user.
5. The method of claim 4, said method further comprising:
authenticating the alternate phone receiver via the unique
biometric identification number of the alternate phone
receiver.
6. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable
storage medium comprising hardware that stores instructions
configured to be executed by a processor of a computer system to
implement a method of transferring an incoming telephone call
designated for an end user to an alternate phone receiver, said
method comprising: said alternate phone receiver receiving, from a
broadcast of a phone number of a first phone to enabled alternate
phone receivers that exist in a first alternate receiver database
directly connected to a first connection agent in the first phone,
the broadcasted phone number of the first phone, said first
alternate receiver database existing in the first phone, said first
connection agent being first software in the first phone, said
alternate phone receivers that exist in the first alternate
receiver database having been identified by the first connection
agent, said phone number of the first phone having been previously
entered by an originating user for an incoming telephone call to
the first phone from the originating user, said alternate phone
receiver being one enabled alternate phone receiver of the enabled
alternate phone receivers that exit in the first alternate receiver
database; after said receiving the broadcasted phone number of the
first phone, ascertaining, by a second connection agent in a second
phone, that the broadcasted phone number of the first phone is in a
list of allowed phone numbers in a second alternate receiver
database directly connected to the second connection agent, said
second alternate receiver database existing in the second phone,
said second connection agent being second software in the second
phone; responsive to said ascertaining, connecting the incoming
telephone call from the originating user to the alternate phone
receiver; receiving transmitted biometric information consisting of
biometric information that had been inputted by the end user at the
second phone after said connecting; and directly responsive to
having determined that the transmitted biometric information
matches stored biometric information of the end user in a biometric
information database located in a mobile switching center, enabling
the incoming telephone call to proceed on the second phone.
7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the first phone
is a land line phone and the second phone is a cellular phone.
8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the first phone
is a cellular phone and the second phone is a land line phone.
9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the biometric
information database comprises a unique phone number of the
alternate phone receiver, a unique biometric identification number
of the alternate phone receiver, and the biometric information of
the end user.
10. The computer program product of claim 9, said method further
comprising: authenticating the alternate phone receiver via the
unique biometric identification number of the alternate phone
receiver.
11. A computer system comprising a processor and a computer
readable memory unit coupled to the processor, said memory unit
containing instructions configured to be executed by the processor
to implement a method of transferring an incoming telephone call
designated for an end user to an alternate phone receiver, said
method comprising: said alternate phone receiver receiving, from a
broadcast of a phone number of a first phone to enabled alternate
phone receivers that exist in a first alternate receiver database
directly connected to a first connection agent in the first phone,
the broadcasted phone number of the first phone, said first
alternate receiver database existing in the first phone, said first
connection agent being first software in the first phone, said
alternate phone receivers that exist in the first alternate
receiver database having been identified by the first connection
agent, said phone number of the first phone having been previously
entered by an originating user for an incoming telephone call to
the first phone from the originating user, said alternate phone
receiver being one enabled alternate phone receiver of the enabled
alternate phone receivers that exit in the first alternate receiver
database; after said receiving the broadcasted phone number of the
first phone, ascertaining, by a second connection agent in a second
phone, that the broadcasted phone number of the first phone is in a
list of allowed phone numbers in a second alternate receiver
database directly connected to the second connection agent, said
second alternate receiver database existing in the second phone,
said second connection agent being second software in the second
phone; responsive to said ascertaining, connecting the incoming
telephone call from the originating user to the alternate phone
receiver; receiving transmitted biometric information consisting of
biometric information that had been inputted by the end user at the
second phone after said connecting; and directly responsive to
having determined that the transmitted biometric information
matches stored biometric information of the end user in a biometric
information database located in a mobile switching center, enabling
the incoming telephone call to proceed on the second phone.
12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the first phone is a
land line phone and the second phone is a cellular phone.
13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the first phone is a
cellular phone and the second phone is a land line phone.
14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the biometric
information database comprises a unique phone number of the
alternate phone receiver, a unique biometric identification number
of the alternate phone receiver, and the biometric information of
the end user.
15. The computer system of claim 14, said method further
comprising: authenticating the alternate phone receiver via the
unique biometric identification number of the alternate phone
receiver.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of cellular
communications. More specifically, the present invention relates to
a technique for transferring any incoming telephone call for a
first user to the cellular telephone of a second user.
BACKGROUND
In today's culture millions of people rely on cellular phones on a
daily basis. Cellular phones are used to store contact information,
make to do lists, send/receive e-mail, get information from the
Internet, play games, and use calculator. Methods exist for the
integration of cellular telephones with other communication devices
such as laptops, GPS devices, and PDA's. However, currently there
is a need for a comprehensive system that integrates cellular
phones with home and/or office landlines. A system and method that
automatically transfers any incoming telephone call to another
authenticated cellular telephone is desired to provide
cost-effective service and rates for long distance calling plans
for cellular telephones.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a method and system of transferring any
telephone call designated to a first user to the cellular telephone
of a second user. In the system, each cellular and landline
telephone in the telecommunication network is adapted with a
biometric authentication unit. Additionally, each cellular and
landlines telephone in the telecommunication network is assigned
two unique identification numbers, a biometric identifier and a
unique numeric telephone number. The system authenticates the end
user biometric information and then allows the end user to answer
an incoming landline telephone call from any location using a
cellular phone as an alternate receiver. Additionally, the reverse
situation is true. An authenticated end user can answer an incoming
cellular telephone call from any location using an available
landline telephone as an alternate receiver.
One objective of the present invention is to provide a system and
method of integrating cellular telephone and home/office telephone
lines.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a secure
and seamless method of authenticating an end user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more detailed understanding of the present invention can be
obtained from the following description in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an overview of the cellular
telephone system connected to the public telephone network.
FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram of an overview of how the
present invention integrates into the current cellular and land
line phone unit utilized in the telecommunication network.
FIG. 2B illustrates a block diagram of an overview of how the
present invention integrates the central office of the current
telecommunications network.
FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of process of how an incoming call
is forwarded from a landline phone to a cell phone.
FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of process of how an incoming call
is forwarded from a cellular phone to a landline phone.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of an overall
configuration of the current telecommunication network in use
today. Each cellular phone unit (100) operates within a particular
cell (110), and as a cellular phone user (100) travels, cellular
phone (100) switches between cells (110). As shown, a specific
carrier segments a city into a plurality of cells (100). Each cell
(110) can typically be approximately ten square miles. Each cell
consists of base station (112) having a tower along with a small
building containing radio equipment. Using radio signals, cellular
phone units (100) communicate with a specific cell tower (113) that
cover a certain range. Each cell tower has a certain range in which
it can receive radio signals. The range of each cell tower overlaps
with another cell tower such that as the cellular phone unit (100)
user travels the communication is uninterrupted. However, to
communicate with a user on the wired public telephone network
(135), the cellular phone unit (100) radio signals are routed from
the cell tower (113) to a mobile switching center (MTSO) (120)
which in turn routes the signal onto the wired public telephone
network (135) through a local exchange (140) connected to the MTSO
(120). Each carrier in each city runs one central office MTSO (120)
that control all base stations (112) within a city and the
connection to the local exchange (140).
Referring to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, there is shown a block diagram of
the present invention incorporated into the current
telecommunication network. The system of the present invention
further includes a connection handler unit (170), connection agent
(150), biometric identification (BID) database (175), BID receptor
(155), and alternate receiver database (160). The connection
handler unit (170), located within the MTSO (120) and the local
exchange (140), handles the connection between the originating call
and the final connection to an alternate receiver of the incoming
call. The connection agent (150) is the software module within the
cellular phone (100) and the landline phone (130) that communicates
with connection handler unit (170) to complete the call connection.
The BID receptor (155) and the alternate receiver database (160)
are each within the cellular phone (100) and the landline phone
(130).
The present invention is adapted with seamless wireless biometric
authentication functionality. BID database (175), located within
the MTSO (120) and the local exchange (140), contain a table of the
authenticated biometric information for each registered cellular
phone (100) and landline phone (130). The biometric information
determines who is authorized to use a specific cellular phone unit
(100) or landline phone (130).
BID receptor unit (155) reads the biometric information from the
user, digitizes the biometric information, stores the biometric
information and can perform a comparison function between the
stored biometric information and the end user inputted biometric
information. Additionally, the BID receptor unit (155) can be a
scanner or another suitable input mechanism. The biometric
information can be a user's unique features such as fingerprint,
voice print, retina of eye or another suitable feature.
Currently, each cellular phone unit (100) has three identification
codes: Electronic Serial Number (EIN) which is the unique number
programmed into the phone when it is manufactured; a permanent part
of the phone Mobile Identification number (MIN) is the unique
number derived from the assigned mobile telephone number System
Identification Code (SID) is a unique 5 digit number that is
assigned to each carrier by the FCC; both the MIN and SID are
programmed upon activation of the code
The present invention further comprises a Biometric Identification
Code (BID) that is also programmed into each cellular phone (100)
and landline phone (130) upon activation. The registration process
of the BID will be described below in further detail.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a flow chart of the process of
transferring an incoming phone call designated for a landline phone
unit to an alternate cellular telephone receiver. Currently, call
forwarding is setup to a specific biometric phone line without any
biometric authentication process. The present invention allows an
incoming call to be forwarded to any available authenticated
alternate telephone receiver.
In step 200, each landline phone and each cell phone is registered
with their respective control office. Upon activation, each
landline phone and/or each cell phone is assigned a unique phone
number and biometric identification number. Each landline phone is
registered with their local exchange office, and each cell phone is
registered with their MTSO. During this registration process, each
telephone's unique identification information is stored in the BID
database on the telephone network. Additionally, each subscribed
cellular phone user and each subscribed landline telephone user
must enter into their alternate receiver database the allowed
possible alternate receivers.
Call processing for a telephone connection starts with an idle
phone and ends with the disconnection of all participating parties
involved in the telephone call. In step 205, when a cellular phone
is first powered on, it listens for the SID on the control channel,
a special frequency used for communication between the cell phone
and the base station. When the phone receives the SID, the phone
compares the programmed SID with the received SID. If the SID's
match, the cellular phone knows that it is communicating with its
verified carrier home system. Along with the SID, the cell phone
also transmits a registration request with a MTSO. The registration
request can also contain the BID information. At this point, the
MTSO can authenticate the cellular phone via its BID. After
authentication, the MTSO keeps track of the cellular phone location
in a database so that it can find the cellular phone to complete a
connection. Additionally, each landline phone unit is wired to the
local exchange so that the registration process is automatic. The
connection handler unit of the MTSO and the connection agent of the
cellular phone communicate to establish registration with the
MTSO.
After registration, the cellular phone unit is returned a dial tone
by the connection handler unit of the MTSO. Then, the originating
user inputs the receiving party landline telephone number. Once the
receiving party landline telephone is located and call forwarding
is enabled, the landline phone connection agent provides to the
local exchange the possible receivers from the local alternate
receiver database. The local exchange communicates with the MTSO
unit of the list of enabled alternate cell phone receivers.
At step 210, the receiving land line phone number is broadcasted
onto the network to the enabled alternate cellular phone receivers.
At step 215, an alternate cell phone receiver receives the
broadcasted phone number. Then, at step 220, the connection agent
of the detected device proceeds to determine if the broadcasted
phone number is in its alternate receiver database. If the
broadcasted phone number is not in the alternate database, the
system proceeds to step 222 in which no access to this particular
alternate receiver is allowed. If the broadcasted phone number is
in its local alternate database, the system proceeds to step 225.
At step 225, a temporary pairing connection is made between the
originating user and the alternate cellular phone receiver. At step
230, the incoming call is connected to the end user's alternate
receiver.
At step 235, the end user inputs his biometric information for
authentication via the phone biometric receptor. Then, the
connection agent of the cellular phone transmits the end user BID
information to the MTSO. The biometric information is then
transmitted by the MTSO to the local exchange of the landline phone
for verification. At step 240, the connection handler unit of the
local exchange compares the transmitted biometric information with
the end user stored biometric information. If the transmitted
biometric information does not match the stored biometric
information, the system proceeds to step 224 and access is denied.
However, if the transmitted biometric information does match the
stored biometric information, the system proceeds to step 245
allowing communication to proceed on the cell phone.
Referring to FIG. 4, the system could work in the reverse. With
this scenario, the incoming cell phone is transferred to a landline
telephone alternate receiver. However, the process is similar.
Then, the originating user inputs the receiving party cellular
telephone number. Once the end user's receiving party cellular
telephone is located and call forwarding is enabled, the cellular
phone connection agent provides to the MTSO the possible alternate
land line telephone receivers from the alternate receiver database.
The MTSO unit communicates to the local exchange the list of
enabled alternate landline phone receivers.
At step 210, the receiving phone number is broadcasted onto the
telephone network to the enabled alternate landline phone
receivers. At step 215, an alternate landline phone receiver
receives the broadcasted phone number. Then, at step 220, the
connection agent of the detected device proceeds to determine if
the broadcasted phone number is in its local alternate receiver
database. If the broadcasted phone number is not in the local
alternate database, the system proceeds to step 222 in which no
access to this particular alternate receiver is allowed. If the
broadcasted phone number is in the alternate database, the system
proceeds to step 225. At step 225, a temporary pairing connection
is made between the originating user and the end user's landline
alternate receiver. At step 230, the incoming call is connected
with the end user's alternate receiver.
At step 235, the end user inputs his biometric information into the
landline telephone BID receptor. The land line phone connection
agent transmits the end user's captured BID to the local exchange.
For verification, the biometric information is then transmitted by
the local exchange of the landline phone to the MTSO controlling
the alternate cellular receiver. At step 240, the connection
handler unit of the MTSO compares the transmitted biometric
information with the end user stored biometric information. If the
transmitted biometric information does not match the stored
biometric information, the system proceeds to step 224 and access
is denied. However, if the transmitted biometric information does
match the stored biometric information, the system proceeds to step
245 allowing communication to proceed on the landline phone.
Prior to use the end user biometric information must be inputted
into the system and stored on assigned MTSO or the local telephone
exchange. During the registration process, the user would input the
biometric information utilizing a biometric receptor unit within a
cellular phone or land line phone unit. After the biometric
information is captured within the telephone unit, it is
interpreted and transmitted to the central for storage in a
centrally located database. In the preferred embodiment, the
registration process occurs during phone activation. Utilizing the
information stored within each specific telephone alternative
database, the connection handler within the telephone network can
be adapted to locate any alternative receiver located anywhere
within the network. After the alternative receiver is located, the
end user is authenticated.
The present invention provides a computer program product,
comprising a computer readable storage medium storing instructions
configured to be executed by a processor of a computer system to
implement a method of transferring an incoming telephone call
designated for an end user to an alternate phone.
* * * * *
References